Wheel-control structure for educational airplane-cockpit outfits



' Oct. 19, 1943.

STRUCTURE Original Filed Oct. 30, 1942 2 SheetsSheet l I T R San Gold ATTORNE Oct. 19, 1943.

s. GOLD I WHEEL-CONTROL STRUCTURE FOR EDUCATIONAL {\IRPLANE GOCKPIT OUTFIT Original Filed Oct. 30; 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Sam Gala ATTORNE Patented Oct. 19, 1943 nane WVHEEL-CONTROL STRUCTURE FOR EDUCA TIONAL AIRPLANE CG CKPIT OUTFITS Sam Gold, Chicago, Ill, assignor to Einson-Freeman 00., Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application October 30, 1942, Serial No. 463,955. Divided and this application April 22, 1943, Serial No. 483,990

12 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to cardboard structures, and has particular reference to a collapsible or knock-down structure intended primarily to constitute one of the elements of an educational outfit.

This application is a division of my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 463,955, filed October 30, 1942.

A general object of the educational outfit, as set forth more fully in said co-pending application, is to provide, in the form of relatively inexpensive cardboard structures, a highly effective means for simulating certain important parts of an actual airplane cockpit, and the relationships of such parts to one another, the structures being primarily intended for conjoint use and being of such relative sizes that a student will be enabled to experience some of the basic problems confronting an actual flier.

More particularly, the eductio-nal outfit comprises structures which simulate, respectively, the instrument-panel, the Wheel-control, and the rudder-pedals of an airplane cockpit; and it is contemplated that a student sitting before the instument-panel with his hands on the wheelcontrol and his feet on the pedalswill thus be subjected to conditions simulating those which obtain in an actual cockpit. This experience, augmented by suitable instruction, either in a classroom or otherwise, enables th student not i only to acquire a better understanding of the controls and instruments involved in flying an airplane, but also to experience and develop a familiarity with the coordination between instrument readings and hand and foot movements 1 educational outfit, has numerous detailed features which are new and useful, not only from the standpoint of construction, but also from the standpoint of simplified and inexpensive manufacture. Among these features is a design of the wheel-control so that the use of metal and critical materials is avoided and so that the wheel element is nevertheless rotatable with a maximum of ease, and a design of the post portion of the wheel-control to permit the desired forwardand-back movements to be effected by merely abutting it against the forward edge of a chair or the like.

Moreover, the wheel-control is composed of a minimum amount of flat cardboard material, and may be so constructed as to be readily adjustable from a completely collapsed or knocked-down condition to an operative set-up condition, and vice versa, the manipulations required being in each case of an extremely simple nature, and the set-up structure being of unusual staunchness and durability.

I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, especially with respect to the Wheel-control, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accom panying drawings in which-- 7 Figure 1 is a perspective vew of the elements of the educational outfit shown in set-up condition and in cooperative relationship;

Figurev 2 is a front elevational View of the wheel-control by itself, in set-up condition, with a portion brokenaway to reveal theconstruction beneath;

Figure 3 is a side view of the device of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line --l l of Figure-2; 1

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a view of the Wheel-control in collapsed condition. 7

While the wheel-control is a separate and independent structure useful by itself, either as a toy or as an educational device, it is contemplated that its primary utility will reside in its employment as an element of the educational outfit shown in Figure 1. It is contemplated that the structures entering into this outfit shall be utilized in the illustrative manner indicated. I have shown a table 30 upon which an instrument panel structure 3! may be set up so that the front of it is approximately at the level of the eyes of a student who would seat himself upon the chair 32. The wheel-control structure comprises a post portion 33 and a wheel element 34,

the post portion having a specially shaped lower end 35 adapted to abut against the forward edge 36 of the chair 32. The rudder-pedal structures 31 would be set up on the floor in the approximate relationships shown.

The structural details of a preferred form of wheel-control are shown in Figures 2-6. The post portion of this structure comprises an element formed of flat cardboard stock which is foldable longitudinally into singularly-related sections. Preferably, the element 10 is foldable into a tubular construction when it is to be set,

up. With this object in View, the element 10 in the preferred embodiment illustrated is provided with score lines H so that when the portions or sections 12 are folded in a rearward direction they will be angularly related to the front wall or section 11 and will constitute side walls of a tubular structure as indicated most clearly in Figure 5. The rear wall 13 may be of reduced dimensions, and it is preferably provided with a hinged attachment flap 14, a suitable slot 15 being provided to receive an attachment tab 15 formed on the opposite wall 12.

The front wall 11 of the post portion 33 is preferably of circular contour at its upper end to facilitate the attachment of the wheel element 34.

The wheel element 34- may be formed of a single blank of flat cardboard suitably shaped to define a peripheral grasping portion 18, spokes 9, and a hub portion 83. The portion 80 is provided with a relatively large opening at its center.

Attached to the front wall 11 of the post portion 33 is a flat circular hub element 8| adapted to fit snuglyinto theaperture formed in the hub portion 83 of the wheel element. The hub element 8! may be attached to the wall 11 in any desired manner and serves as a strong and eificient support for rotatably mounting the wheel element 34 to the post portion 33.

For the. purpose of holding the wheel element 34 in position, a retaining element is preferably provided in the form of a fiat disk 82, slightly larger than the hub element 8!. The retaining element 82 is secured over the hub element 8!, and a convenient procedure lies in the employment of staples 83 or equivalent fastening means which pass through the wall 11, and through the elements 8! and 82, thereby holding all of these parts in firm superposed relationship. This leaves the wheelelement 3'4 in secure sandwiched relationship between the wall 11 and the retaining element 82, yet freely rotatable on the hub element 8|.

It will be observed that the lower end of the post portion 33 is of special configuration. This configuration is brought about by providing a notch or concaved lower edge 84 on each of the side walls 12, this being preferably accomplished by an elongation to each side Wall at the rear, as indicated at 85. As a result, when the structure is set up, the lower end 35 of the post portion is adapted to abut against the forward edge of a chair or the like to permit forWard-and-back movements of the post portion in simulation of the corresponding movements to which an actual wheel-control may be subjected. So long as the abutment (against the chair edge) of both of the side walls it is maintained, lateral movements of the post portion are prevented. As a result, the student seated in the chair with the post portion between his knees and with the wheel element in his hands is enabled to perform and practice the various coordinated movements to which an actual wheel-control is subjected during the process offlight.

In general, it will be understood that the details herein described and illustrated may be modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the inven tion as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its: use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cardboard structure which simulates the wheel-control of an airplane cockpit, comprising an element defining the upright post portion of the wheel-control, a wheel element, means for rotatably mounting said wheel element at the upper end of said post portion, said post portion having the lower end thereof provided with a means for engaging the forward edge of a chair or the like: and holding the post portion in rocking engagement therewith.

2. A cardboard structure as set forth in claim 1, the element defining the post portion being formed of flat cardboard stock.

3. A cardboard structure as set forth in claim 1, the element defining the post portion being formed of flat cardboard stock foldable longitudinally into angularly-related sections.

4. A cardboard structure as set forth in claim 1, the element defining the post portion and the wheel element being each formed of fiat cardboard stock.

5. A cardboard structure as set forth in claim 1. said wh'eel element being provided with a circular aperture, and'said mounting means comprising a circular flat hub element carried by the post portion and adapted to fit snugly into said aperture when the wheel element is mounted thereon. v I

6. A knock-down cardboard structure which, when set up, simulates the wheel-control of an airplane cockpit, comprising element formed of flat cardboard stock provided with score lines whereby it is foldable into a tubular condition in which it defines the upright post portion of the wheel-control, a wheel element formed of a fiat blank of cardboard, and means for rotatably mounting said wheel element at the upper end of said post portion.

'7. A knock-down cardboard structure set forth in claim- 6', said'wheel element being provided with a circular aperture, and said mounting means comprising a circular fiat hub element carried by the post portion and adapted to fit snugly into said aperture when the wheelelement is mounted thereon.

8. A knock-down cardboard structure as set forth in claim 6, said wheel element being provided with a circular aperture, and said mounting means comprising a circular flat hub element carried by the post portion and adapted to fit snugly into said aperture when the wheel element is mounted thereon, and a retaining element for holding the wheel element on said hub element.

9. A knock-down cardboard structure as set forth in claim 6, the lower end of said post portion being shaped to abut against the forward edge of a chair or the like to permit forwardand-back movements of said post portion in simulation of the corresponding movements to which. an actual wheelcontrol may be subjected.

10. A knock-down cardboard structure as set forth in claim 6, the lower end of said post portion comprising spaced side walls each of which has a concaved lower edge, said lower end being thereby adapted to abut against the forward edge of a chair or the like to permit forwardand-back movements of said post portion in means for rotatably mounting said wheel element at the upper end of said post portion, and the lower end of the post portion having a notch therein to receive and to abut against the fora ward edge of a chair or the like to permit forward-and-back movements of said post portion in simulation of the corresponding "movements to whichan actual wheel-control may be subjected. a

12. A cardboard structure which simulates the wheel-control of an airplane cockpit, comprising an element defining the upright post portion of the wheel-control, a Wheel element, means for rotatably mounting said wheel element at the upper end of said post portion, and the lower end of the post portion having a concaved contour to abut against and to receive in said concavity the forward edge of a chair or the like to permit forward-and-back movements of said post portion in simulation of the corresponding movements to which an actual wheelcontrol may be subjected.

SAM GOLD. 

